Synopses & Reviews
andquot;I never thought science could be funny . . . until I read
Frank Einstein. It will have kids laughing.andquot;
andmdash;Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid
andquot;Huge laughs and great scienceandmdash;the kind of smart, funny stuff that makes Jon Scieszka a legend.andquot;
andmdash;Mac Barnett, author ofand#160;Battle Bunny and The Terrible Two
and#160;
andldquo;Dear Frank Einstein,
Please invent time machine. Send your books back in time to me in 1978.
Also a levitating skateboard.
Tommyandrdquo;
andmdash;Tom Angleberger, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
Frank Einstein loves figuring out how the world works by creating household contraptions that are part science, part imagination, and definitely unusual. After an uneventful experiment in his garage-lab, a lightning storm and flash of electricity bring Frankandrsquo;s inventionsandmdash;the robots Klink and Klankandmdash;to life! Not exactly the ideal lab partners, the wisecracking Klink and the overly expressive Klank nonetheless help Frank attempt to perfect his Antimatter Motor . . . until Frankandrsquo;s archnemesis, T. Edison, steals Klink and Klank for his evil doomsday plan! Using real science, Jon Scieszka has created a unique world of adventure and science fictionandmdash;an irresistible chemical reaction for middle-grade readers.
STARRED REVIEW
andquot;In the final analysis, this buoyant, tongue-in-cheek celebration of the impulse to andlsquo;keep asking questions and finding your own answersandrsquo; fires on all cylinders.andquot;
--Booklist, starred review
andquot;Scieszka mixes science and silliness again to great effect.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
andquot;In refusing to take itself too seriously, it proves that science can be as fun as it is important and useful.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly
andquot;With humor, straightforward writing, tons of illustrations, and a touch of action at the end, this book is accessible and easy to read, making it an appealing choice for reluctant readers. A solid start to the series.andquot;
--School Library Journal
andquot;Kids will love Frank Einstein because even though he is a new character he will be instantly recognizable to the readers...Jon Scieszka is one of the best writers around, and I canand#39;t wait to see what he does with these fun and exciting characters.andquot;
andmdash;Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl
andquot;Jon Scieszkaand#39;s new series has the winning ingredients that link his clever brilliance in story telling with his knowledge of real science, while at the same time the content combination of fiction and non fiction appeals to the full range of the market.andquot;
andmdash;Jack Gantos, Dead End in Norvelt
Review
"Angleberger closes his six-plus-volume (there is a companion origami manual with stories) series of doodle-filled Star Wars paeans with an enjoyable, funny and realistic denouement that nicely wraps up most of the series storylines. Age-appropriate boy-girl relationships add to the authenticity of the characters, who will soon be eighth graders. One last time: "stooky!" (Er, "fantastic!")"
Review
"...Angleberger’s characteristic humor remains in abundant supply..."
Review
andquot;Brian Biggsandrsquo; cartoon-tastic two-color illustrations add the perfect punch to the andldquo;diaryandrdquo; look so many young readers have come to embrace. Scieszka clearly knows his audience and plays right into their hands, as this series promises entertainment but supports it with real science. There are plenty of explosions and experiments to inspire reluctant readers to don the lab coats and start inventing!andquot;
andnbsp;
Review
andquot;Biggsandrsquo;s cartoonish illustrations, including a number of science-y diagrams featuring subjects ranging from pizza toppings to the inner workings of a flatulent cow, complement the text perfectly. With a second book already in the works, this definitely smells like a hit series.andquot;
Review
"Fans of the series won’t want to miss the satisfying conclusion."
Review
andquot;Fluffy, fast, fun reading for fans of Clueless McGee and the Wimpy Kid.andquot;
Review
andquot;Barnett and John are in perfect comic harmony.andquot;
Review
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
andquot;Wacky characters, including a hip Grampa Al and a chimpanzee who uses sign language, make this fast-paced story a great choice for readers who want lots of laughs.andquot;
Review
andquot;Coauthors and friends Barnett and John have created a fast paced, laugh-out-loud novel sure to appeal to those who appreciate a good prank and have a sense of justice...a good candidate for reluctant readers and a natural next readandnbsp;for fans of Jeff Kinneyandrsquo;s and#39;Diary of a Wimpy Kidand#39; series.andquot;
Review
andquot;With plenty of humor, quirky characters, interspersed drolly-related cow factoids, and fantastical, over-the-top pranking, this entertaining, enjoyable read will especially appeal to Wimpy Kid aficionados.andquot;
Review
andquot;Well-paced for pleasure reading, this lively start to a new series provides great insight into social dynamicsandmdash;as well as prank planning and execution!andquot;
Review
"Pinkwater saturates his customary eccentricities with a Beat-era flavor."
—Kirkus
"Pinkwater's talent for odd but unforgettable characters continues apace, and his storytelling ability is legendary."
—Publishers Weekly
"Pinkwater's many fans will rejoice."
—Booklist
"Plenty of teens will recognize the issues that Harold confronts—subjectivity of taste, the lure of selling out—as he tries to figure out what art is."
—Bulletin
"This is a paean to the transformative power of art, and vintage Pinkwater."
—School Library Journal
Synopsis
In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that werent strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwights classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, he assembles the case file that forms this novel.
F&P Level: T
F&P Genre: RF
Synopsis
Strange things are happening at McQuarrie Middle School in the opener to the New York Times bestselling series from Tom Angleberger It takes the wisdom of Yoda to survive the sixth grade.
Meet Dwight, a sixth-grade oddball. Dwight does a lot of weird things, like wearing the same T-shirt for a month or telling people to call him "Captain Dwight." But Dwight does one cool thing. He makes origami. One day he makes an origami finger puppet of Yoda. And that's when things get mysterious. Origami Yoda can predict the future and suggest the best way to deal with a tricky situation. His advice actually works, and soon most of the sixth grade is lining up with questions.
Dwight's friend Tommy wants to know how Origami Yoda can be so smart when Dwight is so clueless. Is Yoda tapping into the Force?
This is Tommy's case file of his investigation into "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda."
Includes instructions for folding your own Origami Yoda.
Synopsis
Started it all, it did This is the first book in the New York Times bestselling Origami Yoda series. Perfect for fans of humor, adventure, and a touch of the Force It takes the wisdom of Yoda to survive sixth grade.
Meet Dwight, a sixth-grade oddball. Dwight does a lot of weird things, like wearing the same T-shirt for a month or telling people to call him "Captain Dwight." But Dwight does one cool thing: He makes origami.
One day he makes an origami finger puppet of Yoda. And that's when things get mysterious. Origami Yoda can predict the future and suggest the best way to deal with a tricky situation. His advice actually works, and soon most of the sixth grade is lining up with questions.
Dwight's friend Tommy wants to know how Origami Yoda can be so smart when Dwight is so clueless. Is Yoda tapping into the Force?
This is Tommy's case file of his investigation into "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda."
Includes instructions for creating your own Origami Yoda.
The Origami Yoda series
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
Darth Paper Strikes Back
The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee
The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett
Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue
Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus
Art2-D2's Guide to Folding and Doodling: An Origami Yoda Activity Book
Synopsis
Dark times have fallen on McQuarrie Middle School. Dwights backand not a moment too soon, as the gang faces the FunTime Menace: a new educational program designed to raise students standardized test scores. Instead, its driving everyone crazy with its obnoxious videos of Professor FunTime and his insidious singing calculator! When Principal Rabbski cancels the students field tripalong with art, music, and LEGO classesto make time for FunTime, the students turn to Origami Yoda for help. But some crises are too big for Origami Yoda to handle alone: Form a Rebel Alliance the students must. United, can they defeat the FunTime Menace and cope with a surprise attack from Jabba the Puppett?
With this latest episode in the explosively popular Origami Yoda series, Tom Angleberger proves once again that he has his finger puppet squarely on the erratic pulse of middle-school life” (Washington Post).
Praise for The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett
"Chock-full of customarily quirky fun.”
--Kirkus Reviews
"Fans of the series will relish the side drawings goofy humor, the new puppets to make, and the cliff-hanger promising more to come."
--School Library Journal
"Angleberger delivers another clever, funny crowd-pleaser. The message isnt bad either: uniting for the greater good and standing up for ones beliefs. Fans of the series, or of Star Wars, will hit warp speeds to grab a copy of this one.”
--Booklist
Synopsis
At McQuarrie Middle School, the war against the FunTime Menaceandmdash;aka test prepandmdash;wages on. Our heroes have one battle under their belts, and theyandrsquo;ve even found a surprising ally in Jabba the Puppett. But to defeat the Dark Standardized Testing Forces theyandrsquo;re going to need an even bigger, even more surprising ally: Principal Rabbski. But with great forcesandmdash;aka the school boardandmdash;pushing her from above, will the gangandrsquo;s former enemy don a finger puppet and join the Rebellionandmdash;or will her transformation to Empress Rabbski, Dark Lord of the Sith, be complete?and#160;With this timely episode in the blockbuster Origami Yoda series, Tom Angleberger demonstrates once again that his andldquo;grasp of middle-school emotions, humor and behavior is spot-onandrdquo; (
Scripps Howard News Service).
Praise for Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue!
andquot;Fans will devour this satisfying and nicely realistic conclusion to the story set up in the previous volume. Characters grow, and nonandndash;Star Wars pop-culture references seep in. Readers new to the series are advised to go back to the beginning; they wonandrsquo;t regret it.andquot;
--Kirkus Reviews
andquot;These books are more popular than a working droid on Tatooine. Expect the usual army of young Jedis to come out swinging for a copy.andquot;
--Booklistand#160;
Synopsis
The final Origami Yoda case file from the kids at McQuarrie Middle School!
After successfully fighting to save their field trip in Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue!, Tommy and the gang prepare for a well-earned day of fun and adventure in Washington, DC . . . but of course it won’t be that easy! This trip to the nation's capital will be full of shifting alliances and betrayals, carsickness and sugar rushes. Trouble starts even before the buses leave school, when Principal Rabbski decrees the field trip an “origami-free zone.” Dwight secretly folds a Yoda from a Fruit Roll-Up, but will Fruitigami Yoda be a match for Harvey's sour, hate-filled pickle of darkness? Astronaut ice cream, a supersonic plane, a Johnny Appleseed sighting, and a near arrest—are just some of the clues in the sweetest, stookiest, biggest, craziest Origami Yoda case file yet.
Synopsis
Behind every great superhero is a very angry younger brother.
Luke Parker was just your average comic book fan until his boring, teachers pet, helps-old-ladies-across-the-street brother Zack got turned into a superhero. Luke cant believe the unfairness of it allhes the one with the encyclopedic knowledge of everything from Ant-Man to Wolverine! At least he can help Zackaka Star Guywith all the important parts of becoming a superhero, like using his newfound powers and deciding whether or not to wear a cape.
But when Star Guy gets into super-size trouble, its up to Lukeand his intrepid neighbor, Larato rescue his big brother and, with a little luck, help him save the world.
Synopsis
Not so long ago, in a middle school not so far away, a sixth grader named Dwight folded an origami finger puppet of Yoda. For class oddball Dwight, this wasnandrsquo;t weird. It was typical Dwight behavior. But what is weird is that Origami Yoda is uncannily wise and prescient. He can predict the date of a pop quiz, guess who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and save a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwightandrsquo;s classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, Tommy assembles this first case file in the blockbuster bestselling Origami Yoda series, hailed by School Library Journal as andldquo;honest, funny, and immensely entertaining.andrdquo;
Synopsis
andldquo;A double helping of fun and mischief!andrdquo;
andmdash;Jeff kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
and#160;
andldquo;Hilarious.andrdquo;
andmdash;Dav Pilkey, author of the Captain Underpants series
and#160;
Miles Murphy is not happy to be moving to Yawnee Valley, a sleepy town thatandrsquo;s famous for one thing and one thing only: cows. In his old school, everyone knew him as the townandrsquo;s best prankster, but Miles quickly discovers that Yawnee Valley already has a prankster, and a great one. If Miles is going to take the title from this mystery kid, he is going to have to raise his game.
and#160;
Itandrsquo;s prankster against prankster in an epic war of trickery, until the two finally decide to join forces and pull off the biggest prank ever seen: a prank so huge that it would make the members of the International Order of Disorder proud.
and#160;
In The Terrible Two, bestselling authors and friends Mac Barnett and Jory John have created a series that has its roots in classic middle-grade literature yet feels fresh and new at the same time.
and#160;
andldquo;The pranks, the brotherhood, the art, the heart! Whatandrsquo;s not to love about the Terrible Two?andrdquo;
andmdash;Sara Pennypacker, author of the Clementine series
and#160;
andldquo;You donandrsquo;t have to be a cow, like cows, or even know a cow to love the Terrible Two.andrdquo;
andmdash;Dave Eggers
and#160;
andldquo;This book is terrible! Terribly funny, terribly full of pranks, and terribly wonderful.andrdquo;
andmdash;Jon Scieszka, author of The Stinky Cheese Man and the Frank Einstein series
and#160;
andldquo;The Terrible Two are my kind of kids. And whatandrsquo;s more, theyandrsquo;re kidsandrsquo; kind of kids.andrdquo;
andmdash;Annie Barrows, author of the Ivy and Bean series
Synopsis
Welcome to Pandupur! With its bustling marketplace and honking traffic, posh colonies and shanty towns, railway station and looming dam, forests and playgrounds, Pandupur is teeming with life, much like the river Dhun that flows alongside it.
In Growing Up in Pandupur, sisters Adithi and Chatura Rao weave a web of stories of life lessons, laughter and tears, insecurities, small unkindnesses, and surprising friendship in this fictional town. The book builds a map of Pandupur through the lives of its youngest residents. Characters in the thirteen stories are faced with bullying, gender stereotyping, poverty, and privilege and, in the process of tackling these issues, they learn valuable lessons about the human heart and about growing up. Growing Up in Pandupur is a book that will resonate in the hearts and minds of childrenand#151;and the young at heartand#151;everywhere.
Synopsis
On their own, pranksters Miles and Niles were pretty devious. Now that theyandrsquo;ve formed a pranking duo, theyandrsquo;re terrible! But their powers will be tested when their favorite nemesis, Principal Barkin, is replaced by his stern and cunning father, Former Principal Barkin. Now Miles and Niles will do just about anything to get their old antagonist backandmdash;including pranking alongside him.
Authors and friends Mac Barnett and Jory John andldquo;are in perfect comic harmonyandrdquo; (Publishers Weekly) in this series that celebrates inventiveness, friendship, and the power of teamworkandmdash;for good, or for terrible.
Synopsis
Another Pinkwaterpalooza, jam-packed with off-beat characters and wild happenings for a one-of-a-kind coming of age adventure!
Synopsis
“What Pinkwater does is magic, and Im grateful for it.” --Neil Gaiman (about The Neddiad)
Is Bushman the gorilla alive? According to the papers, he died a long time ago. Why is he so important to the high school senior and aspiring Great Artist Harold Knishke? Its a hot summer in 1960s Chicago, and people are on the streets late at night, including the Chicken Man and Molly the dwerg. While reading this hilarious young adult novel (with illustrations by Calef Brown!) teens will ask themselves, “Why am I reading this?” and “Is Harold about to embark on a voyage of great adventure?” He is.
Video
About the Author
Mac Barnett is a
New York Times bestselling author of books for children, including
Extra Yarn, which won a 2013 Caldecott Honor, and
Battle Bunny. He lives in Berkeley, California.
Jory John is the author of Goodnight Already! and I Will Chomp You! and coauthor of the bestseller All My Friends Are Dead, among other books. He lives in Oakland, California.
Kevin Cornell is the illustrator of many childrenandrsquo;s books, including Count the Monkeys and Mustache!, both by Mac Barnett. He lives in Philadelphia.
Table of Contents
Dhunandrsquo;s Song
Polka-dotted Party
Goblins
Changing Chintamani
The House Painted Blue
Mallipoo, Freeandhellip;.
Nisha
About Grandfathers and Trees
Sister Song
For Preet
A Boat in the Rain
Evenings in 201
Warm-fuzzy
The River Came Home